Window regulator mechanism



Nov. 4, 1941. A. MYERS i WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM 'Filed April 29, 1940 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFF-Ict;

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Hubert A. Myers, Toledo, Ohio, assg'nor of onehalf to Henry W. McKisson, Toledo, Ohio j Application April 29, 1940, serial No. 332,210

claims. (ci. zes-'126) This invention relates Vto window operating means and is particularly directed to regulators for the windows of automotive vehicles wherein the control member is movable in the direction of window movement in contradistinction to the conventional crank type control mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide a substantially vertically movable window panel with regulator means having a longitudinally movable control member and automatic locking means operable to retain the panel in various positions of adjustment, the control member being operable to unlock the locking means as well as to operate the window regulating means. y

- Another object of the invention is to provide a particularly simple arrangement for opening and closing windows of this character and wherein the control member is bodily movable to initially unlock the lock mechanism and subsequently move the window to desired position.

A further object is to provide window regu- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inside of an 'K automobile door equipped with my regulator mechanism;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the control mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially 'on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating one of the operating members; and

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially onv line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the form of the invention as particularly shown in Figures l to 5, it will be noted that the door may be a rear door of an automobile and comprises front and rear pillars 1| and 12, respectively. In the upper portion of the door is a window opening 13 adapted to be closed by a glass or other transparent panel 14, sldable vertically up and down into a well 15, Felt, or the like, lined channels are provided at each side edge of the panel 14 to guide the latter in its movement, while a retainer channel 11 is secured to the lower edge of the panel. Channel 11 has rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by riveting, a generally vertically disposed bar 18 having upwardly diverging end portions xed to the channel 11 as at 19.

Adjacent the lower extremity of bar 18 are a pair of spaced, generally rectangular openings which receive laterally disposed clamping or locking elements 8|. Elements 8| are separably connected together by means such as a pin 83, between which and the bar 18 is disposed a spring 84 tending to urge the elements 8| in one direction to resiliently locate bar 18 with respect thereto. Intermediate the ends`of elements 8| are openings 86 adapted to receive a xed bar or rod 88 secured to the inner door panel 89. Surrounding rod 88 and interposed between elements 8| is a helical expansion spring 90 arranged to urge the elements apart and the walls of openings 86 into cramping engagement with the rod 88. f

Generally vertically disposed adjacent the elements just described is a channel guide member 92 secured to the door panel 89 `in a convenient manner. The guide 92 is reversely channelled between its extremities, the upper portion 93 thereof being open outwardly into the interior of the vehicle while the lower portion 94 is open inwardly of the door well. At the juncture of the reverse channel, the guide 92 is projected through an aperture 95 in thel door panel 89,'50 that portion 93 provides an open slot in the door panel which is accessible fromtheinterior of the vehicle. Slidable in the channel 92 is a flexible metallic tape or operating element 98 having an actuating knob |08 or the like, se-` cured toits upper extremity. Adjacent the lower extremity of the tape 98 is a shoe 99 staked or otherwise secured thereto as at |0| and provided with a pair of substantially rectangular openings |82 somewhat larger than the cross-sectional area of the locking elements 8| and into which openings the ends of the elements 8| eX- tend. The arrangement permits slight relative movement between tape 98 and elements 8| so that either of the elements may be uncramped from rod 88 without causing the other element to bind thereon. Accordingly manipulation of the tape 98 will act to move the upper element 8| downwardly upon downward movement of the tape, and to move the lower element 8| upwardly upon upward movement of the tape, the opposite element 8| in each case being free to drag or slide along the rod, as will be understood. Thus, it will be seen that the tape movement is transferred to the locking elements to uncramp the latter from rod 88 and permit subsequent opening or closing of the window upon continued movement of the tape, depending upon the direction of movement of the tape.

Thus, as in the previous form of the invention, a single longitudinally movable control member serves to unlock the locking elements and move the window panel toward open or closed position as desired. The metallic tape is rigid longitudinally as will be understood, while the channel 92 is arranged so as to confine the tape suiiiciently to prevent lateral fiexing except as necessary to follow the channel guide. A minimum of space is occupied by such an arrangement, and few working parts are required to provide an effective positive acting window controlling and operating mechanism.

While I have shown and described in detail the preferred structural embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the principles of my invention can be employed in means widely different from those chosen for illustration.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a vehicle window panel mounted for sliding movements to cover and uncover a window opening, there being a well at one side of the window opening into which the window panel is movable, upholstery at one side of the well disposed on the inside of the vehicle, guide channel means extending for a portion of its length outwardly of the upholstery and for another portion of its length inwardly of the upholstery, a iiexible actuating strip slidable in said channel means, there being an aperture in the upholstery at the juncture of the inwardly and outwardly disposed channel portions and through which said strip extends, a stationary rod-like member within the well, a spring tensioned cramping plate apertured to receive said rod-like member, a mounting for said cramping plate connected for movement with the window panel, a combined plate-releasing and window actuating finger piece connected to one end of said flexible strip, and means providing an operative connection between the opposite end portion of said iiexible strip and said cramping plate whereby, upon movement of said finger piece in one direction, the cramping plate is first released from cramping engagement with said rod-like member and subsequently movement is imparted to the window panel.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said flexible strip comprises a metal tape and in which the channel guide means disposed outwardly of the upholstery extends in one direction and in which the channel means inwardly of the upholstery extends in the opposite direction.

3. In a Window structure of the type having a window opening, a slidable panel adapted to close said opening, there being a well at one side of the window opening into which the window panel is movable, upholstery at one side of the well disposed on the inside of the vehicle, guide channel means extending for a portion of its length outwardly of the upholstery, and for another portion of its length inwardly of the upholstery, an elongate actuating member slidable in said channel, there being an aperture in the upholstery at the juncture of the inwardly and outwardly disposed channel portions and through which said member extends, means providing a. connection between one end of said elongate member and said panel, an actuating iinger piece connected to the other end of said elongate member, and locking means for normally holding said window panel in position of adjustment, said locking means being releasable upon movement of said linger piece in either direction of movement.

4. In a window structure of the type having a window opening, a slidable panel adapted to close said opening, there being a well at one side of the window opening into which the Window panel is movable, upholstery at one side of the well disposed on the inside of the vehicle, guide channel means extending for a portion of its length outwardly of the upholstery, and for another portion of its length inwardly of the up. holstery, a flexible actuating strip slidable in said channel, there being an aperture in the upholstery at the juncture of the inwardly and outwardly disposed channel portions and through which said strip extends,v means providing a connection between one end of said flexible strip and said panel, an actuating finger piece connected to the other end of said flexible strip, and locking means for normally holding said window panel in position of adjustment, said locking means being releasable upon movement of said linger piece in either direction of movement.

5. In a window structure of the type having a Window opening, a slidable panel adapted to close said opening, there being a well at one side of the Window opening into which the window panel is movable, upholstery at one side of the well disposed on the inside of the vehicle, guide channel means extending for a portion of its length outwardly of the upholstery, and for another portion of its length inwardly of the upholstery, aexible actuating strip slidable in said channel, there being an aperture in the upholstery at the juncture of the inwardly and outwardly disposed channel portions and through which said strip extends, means providing a connection between one end of the flexible strip and said panel, an actuating finger piece connected to the other end of said flexible strip, locking means for normally holding said Window panel in position of adjustment, said locking means including a member slidable in said inwardly disposed portion of the channel means, and an operative connection between said fiexible strip and said slidable member for releasing the locking means upon movement of said finger piece.

HUBERT A. MYERS. 

